The Reserve Bank of India had issued instructions to banks on November 14, 2016 that banks shall waive levy of ATM charges for all transactions by saving bank customers done at all ATMs, irrespective of the number of transactions during the month, from November 10, 2016 till December 30, 2016, subject to review.

As another customer-centric measure, the limit for cash withdrawal at POS has been made uniform at to ₹ 2000/- per day across all centres (Tier I to VI) for all merchant establishments enabled for this facility and (ii) customer charges, if any, being levied on all such transactions waived till December 30, 2016, subject to review.

It may be recalled that the Reserve Bank had vide its circular DPSS.CO.PD.No.449/02.14.003/2015-16 dated August 27, 2015 permitted cash withdrawals at Point of Sales (POS) upto ₹ 1000 in Tier I to II centres and upto ₹ 2000 in Tier III to VI centres.

A reference is invited to our circulars DPSS.CO.PD.No.147/02.14.003/2009-10 dated July 22, 2009, DPSS.CO.PD.No.563/02.14.003/2013-14 dated September 5, 2013 and DPSS.CO.PD.No.449/02.14.003/2015-16 dated August 27, 2015 on cash withdrawal at Point of Sale (POS) enabled for all debit cards/open loop prepaid cards issued by banks with specified per day value limits for different locations.

2. Following the withdrawal of legal tender characteristics of existing ₹ 500/- and ₹ 1000/- Bank Notes (Specified Bank Notes – SBN), the Reserve Bank of India had advised banks, vide circular DPSS.CO.PD.No.1240/02.10.004/2016-2017 dated November 14, 2016, to waive levy of ATM charges for all transactions by savings bank customers done at all ATMs, from November 10, 2016 till December 30, 2016, subject to review.

3. As another customer-centric measure, it has been decided that (i) the limit for cash withdrawal at POS (for debit cards and open system prepaid cards issued by banks in India) has been made uniform at ₹ 2000/- per day across all centres (Tier I to VI) for all merchant establishments enabled for this facility and (ii) customer charges, if any, shall not be levied on all such transactions.

4. The above shall come into effect from the date of this circular and shall be applicable till December 30, 2016, subject to review.

5. All other extant instructions in this regard shall remain unchanged.

6. The directive is issued under Section 10(2) read with Section 18 of Payment and Settlement Systems Act 2007, (Act 51 of 2007).